EXT. AUNT JONI'S HOUSE – AFTERNOON
A broken-down old car pulls up along the long, narrow driveway to Aunt Joni's house. We see it fully in the day-time. Quite large. A large storage garage sits some distance away. And the property is surrounded by trees.
Billy exits the car and begins marching up to Joni's house. Behind them, a nice SUV creaks to a stop. Dewey and Gale exit.
DEWEY: Billy!
Billy stops. He's fuming. Dewey and Gale seem concerned.
GALE: We thought you'd be here.
BILLY: When were you gonna tell me? Huh?
DEWEY: Just calm -.
BILLY: Five people dead! Four teens! An actress! Butchered by a guy in a ghost costume! (stopping Dewey from saying something) Don't say it was just a coincidence! Do not! A quadruple homicide in New Jersey and another in New York – at the same time we're all here for a funeral! And I'm supposed to think it's all coincidental?!
DEWEY: It's not coincidental. We've already talked to Detectives Rogers and Wayne. We're -.
BILLY: And what about Tatum?
GALE: Billy, you go knocking on that door, do you know what's going to happen?
BILLY: I'm getting my wife! I'm getting my wife and getting her out of here!
GALE: Your wife doesn't want to be with you!
Beat.
BILLY: I don't believe that.
GALE: Believe it! Wake up and smell the coffee Billy! You're separated! I don't know what happened between you two – if the cheating really happened -.
BILLY: It didn't.
GALE: - but if you go marching up to that door, you're only going to have a repeat of what happened at the funeral!
Billy shakes his head. He turns, heading straight for the front porch. Gale follows him.
GALE: She used to call me. Every other night. We spent hours on the phone! I listened to her crying because you were working late with no explanation!
BILLY: I had to work overtime -.
GALE: You'd come home, smelling like alcohol and cigarettes. Forget finding the panties in the backseat. What happened to you, Billy?
Billy remains silent. Finally …
BILLY: I can't tell you …
GALE: Why not? After all we've been through -.
BILLY: I can't tell you – because it would destroy Tatum.
Gale stops. She stares hard at the back of Billy's head. She pauses a moment.
GALE: So then it is true … the cheating -.
BILLY: Go back to California with Dewey, Gale. You gave up investigative journalism a long time ago. Don't start picking it up now.
He climbs the steps to the porch. Gale stares at him for a moment. And then -.
GALE: C'mon Dewey.
She turns and walks back to Dewey's car. Dewey slides into the driver's seat. Gale sits in the passenger's seat. She stares at Billy on the porch as he pounds on the front door.
GALE: (under her breath) You won't let anyone help you.
Dewey turns the ignition and backs down the long driveway.
CUT TO:
EXT. FRONT PORCH – MORNING
Billy continues to pound on the door.
BILLY: Tatum! Tatum, we gotta talk! It's important!
The front door opens – Aunt Joni stands there smiling like the cat that got the cream, a glass of white wine swirling in her hand.
AUNT JONI: I knew it was a matter of time before you came crawling here. Tatum doesn't want to see you.
She steps forward onto the porch, closing the door behind her. She takes another threatening step towards Billy.
AUNT JONI: Tatum never wants to see you again.
BILLY: Let me see my wife, Joni!
AUNT JONI: She's your wife in law only. Only. She hasn't been your wife in quite some time!
She takes another step.
BILLY: This isn't funny! There's another massacre and we're all –
AUNT JONI: Tatum's a big girl now. She can handle herself. She doesn't need your help anymore.
Joni takes another step towards Billy. He steps back, towards the edge of the step.
AUNT JONI: Why would she? She's got her family. She has me.
BILLY: What about Nicholette? And DJ? You know – her daughter and nephew?
AUNT JONI: Well, you know what they say about cutting the cord …
Joni steps up – she's face-to-face with Billy.
AUNT JONI: I'm the only family she needs.
BILLY: You're sick!
AUNT JONI: Yes I am. Sick and tired of you! Sick and tired of Tatum crying her eyes out over you! I intend to show her a good time, Billy! Live it up, the way she and I used to in college! Before she met that bastard James … before she made the biggest of mistake of her life by getting back with you! She and I will go out to clubs, dancing, drinking – heck, there are lots of eligible, middle-aged bachelors in the area. Some of them quite wealthy.
BILLY: You better not -.
AUNT JONI: In fact, a few of my guy friends have expressed interest in Tatum … they've asked if she's still with you. Of course I said no … yes, a pretty thing like her will have lots of dates lined up. And any one of them will treat her far better than you – give her the life she deserves!
BILLY: I'm giving you to the count of three -.
AUNT JONI: Until what?
Billy lowers his head. She laughs in his face.
AUNT JONI: You're powerless here, Billy. So why don't you take your broken-down self, get into that broken down car and go die in a ditch somewhere!
BILLY: I'm not leaving till I see her!
TATUM: (V/O) Fine!
Joni whirls around and Billy peers past her to see Tatum standing in the doorway, arms folded.
BILLY: Tatum -.
TATUM: I figured you wouldn't leave until you heard it from me.
AUNT JONI: You don't owe him anything Tatum! Go back inside, I'll deal with this!
Billy brushes past Joni to Tatum who stares at him with cold indifference.
BILLY: Tatum, listen to me! We gotta go! There's another massacre coming -.
TATUM: I saw on the news. I don't see how this affects us.
BILLY: What? A guy in a ghost mask -.
TATUM: Last time wasn't about us. It was about Jill Roberts.
BILLY: And Nicholette got dragged into it!
TATUM: She's with Danny.
BILLY: Oh, that's a great deal of comfort! Yeah, Danny'll keep her safe -.
TATUM: I want you to leave Billy.
BILLY: Tatum –.
TATUM: No. I've listened to your excuses long enough. Really. Please leave.
AUNT JONI: Well spoken, Tatum. C'mon you!
Billy stands there. He shrugs Joni's hand off and stares at Tatum.
BILLY: I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me anymore.
TATUM: Billy -.
BILLY: If you do that, I'll leave. I'll leave and I won't come back and I won't bother you ever again!
AUNT JONI: She doesn't love you anymore!
TATUM: I can speak for myself, Joni.
BILLY: You can't say it, can you?
TATUM: Billy, don't make this hard. Please. You've made so many things difficult for me throughout our marriage, I'm begging you – just let this one thing be simple … can you do that for me, Billy? Just this one thing?
Billy stares at her. He sees the sincerity in her eyes … and also the pain. He sees Aunt Joni standing there, arms folded, tapping her foot impatiently. He returns his gaze to Tatum who's now looking at him imploringly. Billy nods.
BILLY: Okay. Fine. If that's what you want … I won't bother you again …
He turns, and walks off the porch. He turns to give Tatum one last glace – Joni stands defensively next to Tatum, putting her arm around her shoulder and drawing her close. Billy sighs, gets into his car and drives off.